Fun Stuff - Kylie's visit and what not!
I have put off doing the blog for so long that it is all jumbled up in my brain.  The internet is terrible and it is frustrating but I am going to try to do it in 2 parts and bits and pieces as I still want to record all the wonderful things we have been fortunate enough to see and do.
This is the Mormon tabernacle in Gilbert.  They offered free tours before the temple is officially open.  After that anyone who enters has to have special invitation.

It is not a place for Sunday worship, and in fact it is closed on Sunday.  It is a place for special events and services.  It was absolutely beautiful inside but we were not allowed to take pictures.  The room for weddings was amazing.  It is full of beautiful wood, crystal chandeliers and marble.  This temple is in southwest colors (muted) - the carpets are nearly white.  We had to wear little booties over our shoes to protect the flooring.  When the mormons attend the temple they are dressed in white.  There was a mormon couple in front of us so it was like having our own private tour guide.

This is Jay, Kristen and little Shelby.  Kristen is the daughter of our friends Glenn and Maureen who live just accross the street from us. We have enjoyed Glenn and Maureen's company very much and Maureen has taught me a LOT about quilting and when I can't find Don, the first place I look is at Glenn's house.  If you look close you will see that Shelby is holding her dad's Silver Olympic medal.  He got it in 2006 for speed skating.  It sure was cool to touch a genuine silver medal and these kids are lovely people.

Once Kylie came on the 24th of January the weather cooled off a touch. We shopped for a couple of days and then headed to Anaheim on my birthday. 

We sure had a hard time getting Don in that princess outfit but I think it turned out pretty good.  We rode most of the rides that were open and we all loved the Indiana Jones Adventure the best.  It was a full Disney day and we all were good with one day of crowds and kids and line ups.

The next day we  shopped at a big mall in the morning and  drove out to Newport beach and spent the afternoon just looking at the beautiful homes walking in the sand (it wasn't super hot but there were still surfers to watch).

You know those beach pictures you always see, or decorations that have all the old wood and sea stuff and pelicans - well this is a REAL live pelican.

I love it when people offer to take pictures for you - otherwise we always have a family of 2.

The next day we took a 9 hour bus tour of the Los Angeles area.  We saw Rodeo Drive, the chinese theater, Muscle beach, Venice Beach, Hollywood,  Beverley Hills, and a lot more!   We had lunch at the Santa Monica Pier
It was nice as Don got to see everything instead of having to drive.  It is NO treat driving in a city this large.


This is downtown - these buildings are so huge

I

 Walt Disney Concert Hall.  And above it a picture of the beach that day, it was foggy in the morning and cool and damp.

 this is the Fresh Prince of Bel Air home!  Above is Venice Beach where the canal runs along behind the million plus dollar homes.  We saw lots of stars homes even Johnny Depp's way up on a hill.  I waved at some people standing on the deck at Ron Howards house  - LOL

As I am having trouble with my internet I am not going to try and re-arrange these pictures but above is Venice/ Muscle beach.  The area is beautiful but there are piles and piles of shopping carts, cardboard boxes, old bikes and blankets everywhere  - a lot of people were still sleeping in them when we were there.  Seems odd to go past million dollar homes  and then a short distance away are people living in boxes.

 Best crosswalk EVER

 This was Hollywood Boulevard where they were filming and people dress up in all kinds of costumes to get you to take a picture and of course slip them a few bucks.

 This is looking out over LA, most of the fog had cleared and what you see now is a layer of smog.  Gross!

I have always wanted to see the Hollywood sign so I can take it off my bucket list.  It was a great tour and a wonderful way to see a lot of stuff in only one day.